Davis Apple

Apple

Davis Apple

Origin & History

[NOTE: Source text may be incorrect — Coxe (1817) describes a "Davis Apple" that is bright russet, September-ripening, and "very liable to rot," which conflicts sharply with the Michigan Davis described by Downing, Elliott, and Thomas as a yellowish-crimson, late-keeping apple ripening March–May. These are almost certainly two distinct varieties sharing the name. Coxe's description is included separately below.]

Originated in Plymouth, Wayne County, Michigan, on the farm of Jehiel Davis (Downing).

Tree

Vigorous, upright, bears annually (Downing). A great bearer (Elliott).

Fruit

Size: Small (Downing, Thomas). Below medium (Elliott).

Form: Sources vary: roundish, flattened at base and crown (Downing); ovate regular, flattened at base and crown (Elliott); oblong, flattened (Thomas).

Stem: Not described in source.

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Closed (Elliott).

Basin: Small (Elliott).

Skin: Yellowish, shaded and obscurely striped with crimson, russeted at the crown, and sprinkled with gray dots (Downing). Yellowish, shaded with red-gray dots (Elliott). Crimson (Thomas).

Flesh & Flavor: Whitish, fine-grained, compact, juicy, crisp, sprightly, subacid; quality rated "Good" (Downing). Whitish, firm, sub-acid (Elliott). Crisp, sub-acid (Thomas).

Core & Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

April, May (Downing). March to April (Elliott). A good keeper (Thomas) and great keeper (Elliott).

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes & Variants

Not described in source.

Other — Coxe's "Davis Apple" (likely a distinct variety)

Coxe (1817) describes a Davis Apple as follows: "This is a very fair apple; the colour a bright russet; the flesh rich and finely flavoured, fit for the table or early cider in September—it bears abundantly, but is very liable to rot." The bright russet color, September season, suitability for early cider, and tendency to rot all conflict with the Michigan Davis, which is yellowish-crimson, keeps until March–May, and is prized precisely as a keeper. Coxe's book predates the Michigan origin and likely refers to an unrelated variety of the same name.

Book Sources

Described in 4 period pomological works

View original book sources (4)

NO. 127. DAVIS APPLE.

This is a very fair apple; the colour a bright russet; the flesh rich and finely flavoured, fit for the table or early cider in September—it bears abundantly, but is very liable to rot.

— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)

Davis.

Origin, Plymouth, Wayne Co., Mich., on the farm of Jehiel Davis.

Tree vigorous, upright, bears annually.

Fruit small, roundish, flattened at base and crown, yellowish, shaded, and obscurely striped with crimson, russeted at the crown, and sprinkled with gray dots. Flesh whitish, fine-grained, compact, juicy, crisp, sprightly, subacid. Good. April, May.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Davis.

From Wayne Co., Mich. Fruit, below medium, ovate regular, flattened at base and crown ; color, yellowish, shaded with red-gray dots ; calyx, closed ; basin, small ; flesh, whitish, firm, sub-acid ; great bearer and keeper. March to April.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Davis. Small, oblong, flattened, crimson; crisp, sub-acid. Good keeper. Mich.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)